Memories Of The Casino

[jimmy clitheroe]

Thoose manky pasties & pies in the heater on top of the bar. Who ate the fooking things anyway?

[Harry Crosby]

FOOTBALL SPECIAL train pulling in at leeds, while we were all waiting to change for manchester. All hell broke loose. My old mate Andy ware from york shouting "THERES MORE OF US, LETS AV EM" So off we went charging down the platform, we was gonna av em, till we looked back and there was only three of us running at them. OH SHIT!!!! comes to mind

[manus]

FOOTBALL SPECIAL train pulling in at leeds, while we were all waiting to change for manchester. All hell broke loose. My old mate Andy ware from york shouting "THERES MORE OF US, LETS AV EM" So off we went charging down the platform, we was gonna av em, till we looked back and there was only three of us running at them. OH SHIT!!!! comes to mind

I remember my second away match was at Leeds boxing day 1970 - my first was Derby earlier in the season. I was a skinny 14 year old suedehead and there was hell on all day and a constant rain of pennies on us as were daft enough to go into the Gelderd End where we basically got a hiding. The buses were all leaving at midnight to go back to Newcastle and on the night we were wandering around Leeds city centre - I was with two schoolmates and we saw about 50 Leeds skins standing on a corner - I started to say to my mates just turn around slowly and before I knew it my mates were legging it up the street and the Leeds boys cottoned on and came charging up after us.

We legged it into a cinema and tried to pay in but the film was an X and they weren't having it - the old fella who checked the tickets stood at the door and the Leeds fellas stood outside shouting at us. Football hooligans had respect for old folk in those days: can you imagine those firms of the 80s standing back because a doddering old dads army type in a red coat stood blocking their way. Eventually they headed off and we ended up in another picture house watching a film with Raquel Welch in it and hot air ballons.

And we got beat 3-0

Cheers

Manus

Edited August 17, 2010 by manus

[The Animal]

Me and my mate Derwin and two girls got stopped by two DS on Manchester station. One was older and experienced, the other quite young and still wet behind the ears. The older one started searching Derwin while the younger one started searching the girls bags.

I was papping myself as I had stuff hidden in the waistband of my trousers.

One of the girls (Jackie) had some loose tampons in plain white paper wrappers in her bag.

Excitedly, the young DS pulled out a tampon and held it up saying "So what's this you've got Miss?" He must have thought it was a cigar sized joint!!!

Jackie snatched the tampon and her bag back off him and said "If you don't fooking know by now son you're in the wrong fooking job!"

With that the older DS looked so embarassed he stopped the search and thanked us for our time and went off with the young DS getting a right bollocking!

Went in my old Austin Maxi with 7 of us in one Sat nighter. By the time we got there the clutch was practically not working.

Sunday morning in car park we couldn't get it into any gear.

Arthur Fenn got behind the wheel with the engine running and we pushed him round the car park until finally he rammed it into 4th gear.

He then drove round and round the car park while we all took it in turns to jump into this moving vehicle.

Once everyone was in Arthur managed to drive all the way from Wigan to Selby without stopping.

At traffic lights and junctions etc... I had to slow us down using the handbrake whila Arthur revved the arse off it to stop us from stalling.

All the amateur mechanics told me clutch had gone, would cost a fortune etc...

My mates dad had a look and said there was no clutch fluid in it!!! Bought a bottle of clutch fluid and car was a goodun for another few years and got us to plenty of nighters etc...

Same car, one night peeing down with rain the drivers side windscreen wiper broke. Undeterred, I drove the last 30 miles hanging out of the window. Got to Casino freezing & pee wet through. Soon forgot this with a change of clothes and steam dried in Casino!!!

Fortunately it wasn't raining next morning or that would have been a nightmare drive home!!

[Ric-tic]

one night in the early days 74/75 in the early hours a few of us went out for some air and a verbal and station road was COVERED in pills well mainly capsules, thousands upon thousands of them like a hailstone shower, not just outside the club but right down the road even all over the gardens behind the wall, we all said for sure this is the last night the casino cant survive this, would love to know the story behind this but i suppose its obvious the rejects from a bust

there were a few on their hands and knees too.....

[grantdyche]

Thoose manky pasties & pies in the heater on top of the bar. Who ate the fooking things anyway?

I did unfortunately,The meat pies where all soggy at the bottom,Not with the gravy from the pies,I think they just chucked them in there and hoped the heat from the punters would cook them,

Remember getting piss week cups of tea from the upstairs balcony bar,

A real vivid memory of mine is the stacks of empty Coke bottles in crates in the record bar getting bigger and bigger as the night went on,It was a wonder there was room for anyone in there at the end of the night,

Most of the normal things also remind me but they have all been done before (The queues,The doormen,The greasers coming out before we went in,Mrs Woods,The bogs)

The main things that I look back on now and it just captures it all for me was not The Casino but the build up to Saturday night,Working all week at the Paper mill for next to nothing,Coughing up my Dosh to my mum for my board at home and wondering if I could afford to go,Or would I have to miss paying Burtons for my leather Bomber jacket,

Meeting up with my mates in the "Golden Grill" cafe in Radcliffe for a cheese burger,The bus ride to Bolton,Once at Bolton hundreds of other folk all in the queue for the same bus,Top deck spark up a fag and on goes someones tape recorder,The bet on who would see the Deane Parrish church first?

May seem a bit boring to some but when I think of Wigan it's those times I think of that bring back such happy memories,

It was all part of the experience for me,

They would send you out on "Team building" courses nowadays to try gain what I got from my Casino days

[Guest topcatnumpty1]

The games of football in the Casino car park about 7 a.m(just as Russ came back on) with me,Rod Shard,Dave Withers,Guy H,Tim,Bernie Golding,Chris Plant even Pete Lawson had a go!!!!

Tony

[wiganpotter]

Wasn't there a station called Bryn that was between the two of them...?

WIGAN NORTH WESTERN AND WIGAN WALLGATE ARE A HUNDRED YARDS APART, NEXT TO THE TOWN CENTRE , BRYN IS ON THE OUTSKIRTS NEAR ASHTON IN MAKERFIELD .

GREAT READING ALL THESE MEMORIES. PERHAPS SOMEONE SHOULD WRITE A BOOK ABOUT PERSONAL MEMORIES ??????????

[Davetay]

The games of football in the Casino car park about 7 a.m(just as Russ came back on) with me,Rod Shard,Dave Withers,Guy H,Tim,Bernie Golding,Chris Plant even Pete Lawson had a go!!!!

Tony

Tony, talking of playing football...

At the Spining Jenny All-Dayer in Accrington 77 or 78 not sure which, we even had Colin Curtis having a kick about.

Back to the Casino dug out this photo of Pete Lawson, with Sean from Ormskirk and Douggie from Accy.

Edited August 18, 2010 by davetay

[Davetay]

Tony, talking of playing football...

At the Spining Jenny All-Dayer in Accrington 77 or 78 not sure which, we even had Colin Curtis having a kick about.

Back to the Casino dug out this photo of Pete Lawson, with Sean from Ormskirk and Douggie from Accy.

BTW the photo was took in May 74.

[Paul R]

Tony, talking of playing football...

At the Spining Jenny All-Dayer in Accrington 77 or 78 not sure which, we even had Colin Curtis having a kick about.

Back to the Casino dug out this photo of Pete Lawson, with Sean from Ormskirk and Douggie from Accy.

Bloody hell! That takes me back to my Ormskirk days. That must have been around the time I sold him my UK Demo of April Stevens for £8 because I needed some shoes and my dad wouldn't pay for them. Actually it was my fault for telling him Sean had offered me the money.

Apparently Sean isn't around anymore, under very sad circumstances so I heard.

That's when I used to knock about with Pete, Sean, Gozzy(Roy Gostelow) and Dave Lonsdale. Happy crazy times.

Paul

[roblee]

everytime i watch coronation street and they go into Roys cafe i think of wigan when his pie warmer comes on the screen, i am pretty sure it the same one with the same two pies in, they never seemed to sell any i wounder why? do you think they savaged it from the fire?

[Guest POTTERIESPECK]

Used to love the rush when going up the stairs and wondering what was going to hit you when you push the door open to the main floor, it did'nt matter what weather it was outside ? open the door in winter and if the heat hit you straight away and you knew it was a full house, open the door in summer and no heat to greet you and the place was empty.

PACKED.bmp

PACKED.bmp

Edited August 19, 2010 by POTTERIESPECK

[Tony Smith]

BTW the photo was took in May 74.

Thanks for sharing the photo, got anymore from that era?, Pete showed a few from early Torch when he looked like a girl!

[Guest martyn]

People tend to forget that some nights it was dead in there...

Usually when it clashed with an oldies nighter the night before or a Yate/ St Ives / Cleethorpes / Sheffield etc etc aniversary night .In fact I went through a stage where I hardly ever went on a Saturday night because there were (IMO) better things going off elsewhere & I think it was the same for others too .

I also think sometimes we over emphasise Wigan at the expense of the aforementioned venues

Edited August 20, 2010 by martyn

[macca]

They were a curse, and provided some of the grimmest sights I've ever seen at an all-nighter, people dribbling, pissing themselves and worse. The only fight I ever saw was also down to some oaf picking a fight barbed up. Seedy and sordid.

Edited August 20, 2010 by macca

[macca]

Sorry guys, the last post was in response to someone mentioning barbs, I didn't realise I wasn't on the last page of the thread. :-)

[Guest martyn]

Sorry guys, the last post was in response to someone mentioning barbs, I didn't realise I wasn't on the last page of the thread. :-)

Spot on post though mate .

[Guest Nick Harrison]

Thoose manky pasties & pies in the heater on top of the bar. Who ate the fooking things anyway?

Around early 1978 and throughout 79 onwards "younger soul boys" wearing and introducing cosmetics for a darkening of the eyelashes........ Sad but true.

Panny do you recall both Barney and Muckers, wearing mascara/eye liner, dying their hair jet black and masquerading, costumed up as the new Gary Newman followers at this period, whilst still attending Station Road, both still purchasing northern 45's, but displaying a deceptive show, towards our dated music and it's entire establishment. .

Edited August 22, 2010 by Nick Harrison

[Guest]

l remember that time,Nick.....Yes l did were mascara at one stage and bought a pair of Two-Tone Zoots.....worn them on a Saturday there.......would never have done it at The Oldies...

What in the Lord's name were these ? ........ and was it waterproof mascara ?

Malc

[Guest dave nowell]

l remember that time,Nick.....Yes l did were mascara at one stage and bought a pair of Two-Tone Zoots.....worn them on a Saturday there.......would never have done it at The Oldies...

On a similar theme...................

My mate was a great funky dancer and like many of us was mad on fast, funky stuff like Captain of My Ship , T Connection, Brainstorm etc

About 77ish he got his Wigan Casino - Heart of Soul badge and got his sister to take out the middle

He then inserted the word FUNK in capitals - mainly to wind up the oldies brigade

He wore it all the time but only lasted five minutes in Mr M's before he was manhandled out of the place!

[Guest Nick Harrison]

l remember that time,Nick.....Yes l did were mascara at one stage and bought a pair of Two-Tone Zoots.....worn them on a Saturday there.......would never have done it at The Oldies...

Top of the morning to you Phillip,

did you have a suede head at this time or a "Mecca Bob" as around this time the male " bob" termed haircut made a return, but even back then the bloke's sandal shoe was reinvented by "Pod". But this was the fashion, commonly displayed at many a venue, including The Stars And Stripes all nighters and Peterboro.

Although the northern scene had a huge influx of mods reinvented by the 1979 film Quadrophenia, eye liner was made popular. The male "Bob" haircut and the Fred Perry 3 button top and long sleeved Perry jumper, was later the tribal dress for Everton's footballing hardcore crew's - Perry Boys and later The Toffee Crew.

Did you own a Zoot Suit - Phil. .

Edited August 22, 2010 by Nick Harrison

[Guest Nick Harrison]

But those records were brilliant..... My ex-wife used to be great dancing to them....l used to get jealous.....cos l couldn't.......and still can't over 30 years later...

You could not dance too em Phil back then, cause you ain't downed enough gear - simple as...............................

Regards,

Swiftnick .

[Guest]

They were trousers,Malcolm......made by Spencers,you old fogey...

Now I click ..... these were the high-waisted , wide-legged , tight bottomed peg trousers as favoured by the J / F Brigade .

Did you know Spencers are still in business Phil ?

Malc

Edited August 22, 2010 by Malc Burton

[Guest Nick Harrison]

thought that the 'male-bob' was a wedge.......

Correct - Webby. ..

Edited August 22, 2010 by Nick Harrison

[Greety]

I can remember going a few times in 79 I think. There was no gear to be had anywhere in the country. Just a few hundred in and most of those were asleep on their holdalls by three o'clock. It was'nt always packed dancefloor and thunderous clapping.

[Greety]

Not the greatest compliment you can pay Richard Searling is it? Hitting up some ZZZ's while he is on.

[Guest Nick Harrison]

I can remember going a few times in 79 I think. There was no gear to be had anywhere in the country.

Dave - most of it had been sent out in the postal system many years earlier - remember.............. only for the Royal Mail to assist with local home town cops in a small bust here in North Yorks. .

[Guest proudlove]

What in the Lord's name were these ? ........ and was it waterproof mascara ?

Malc

The trousers sound .................erm interesting,...........................but mascara................and eyeliner......................................there would have been several deaths back in the day!

[Guest proudlove]

Are you saying that l would have been murdered by you and your mates for wearing mascara and eye-liner......you mods in the 60's started it.......Anyway Happy Birthday...

No mate........................but people who were........... erm ..............different did tend to take a chance with some of the people that were knocking about then!

And thanks for the wishes.

Steve

[Davetay]

Thanks for sharing the photo, got anymore from that era?, Pete showed a few from early Torch when he looked like a girl!

Tony, I've only got a few from that era.

Here they are......

[Guest audiavant]

Not the greatest compliment you can pay Richard Searling is it? Hitting up some ZZZ's while he is on.

The quality tunes always got a dedicated response from the appreciative dancers/collectors anyway!

[Davetay]

Dave,you look like Keith Chegwin,mate...

I have been called at lot worse.

Anyway found a few more, and I am not on any.

[Guest]

I have been called at lot worse.

Anyway found a few more, and I am not on any.

If my late Mother had seen those photographs around the time they were taken , she would have said " those lads look like they could do with a good meal - don't they eat anything ? "

Malc

Edited August 23, 2010 by Malc Burton

[Guest dave nowell]

I have been called at lot worse.

Anyway found a few more, and I am not on any.

Dave....

That picture that looks like it's taken in a carpark

bloke on the left with white teeshirt holding somet up

it's not Dave Ward from Leyland is it?

[Davetay]

Dave....

That picture that looks like it's taken in a carpark

bloke on the left with white teeshirt holding somet up

it's not Dave Ward from Leyland is it?

The one in the middle is Pepe, I can't remember who the other two are sorry.

[dthedrug]

People tend to forget that some nights it was dead in there...

Hi SATURDAY NIGHTS FOLLOWING OLDIES ALL-NIGHTERS WERE ALLWAYS GLUM? AS THE ENGLAND WIGAN DOCUMENTRY SHOWS THt was a Saturday, I think and iI dont no if the locals new that Granada TV were going to be there but the oldies nights at the same time were packed;) .

HAS ANY BODY GOT PHOTOS OF THE BAR RECORD AREA? OF THE CASINO, AS THERE ARE VERY FEW PICTURES OF COLLECTORS WHO BECOME TOP DJs IN THE 80ts:ph34r: dave kil:ph34r:

[Guest]

Hi SATURDAY NIGHTS FOLLOWING OLDIES ALL-NIGHTERS WERE ALLWAYS GLUM? AS THE ENGLAND WIGAN DOCUMENTRY SHOWS THt was a Saturday, I think and iI dont no if the locals new that Granada TV were going to be there but the oldies nights at the same time were packed;) .

HAS ANY BODY GOT PHOTOS OF THE BAR RECORD AREA? OF THE CASINO, AS THERE ARE VERY FEW PICTURES OF COLLECTORS WHO BECOME TOP DJs IN THE 80ts:ph34r: dave kil:ph34r:

I have posted this before Dave , so see if you can ID anyone from it .

Malc

Edited August 24, 2010 by Malc Burton

[Guest topcatnumpty1]

Seen that one in the record bar b4--thats, me 4th from the end ----you can see the dodgy tache and funny 70,s hair do,head deep in a record box(as always then!!!)

T.C.

[Guest]

Seen that one in the record bar b4--thats, me 4th from the end ----you can see the dodgy tache and funny 70,s hair do,head deep in a record box(as always then!!!)

T.C.

Was it true Tony , that it was your fourth attempt at growing one , as the other three rejected you ?

Malc

[Guest]

I do thats my hand (bottom left corner)holding the coke just about to swallow something:lol: must be my left ´cause i never smoked:no: disgusting!

Steve

If you look at the photograph Steve , the one with the cup , and the one with the tab , are both right ones .

Malc

[jimmy clitheroe]

Around early 1978 and throughout 79 onwards "younger soul boys" wearing and introducing cosmetics for a darkening of the eyelashes........ Sad but true.

Panny do you recall both Barney and Muckers, wearing mascara/eye liner, dying their hair jet black and masquerading, costumed up as the new Gary Newman followers at this period, whilst still attending Station Road, both still purchasing northern 45's, but displaying a deceptive show, towards our dated music and it's entire establishment. .

yes i do Nick:lol: , i think we where all guilty of fashion crimes at some point

[Guest Nick Harrison]

yes i do Nick:lol: , i think we where all guilty of fashion crimes at some point

yes indeed Panny,

but at that time they were cultural trends, but the funny thing is that many years later you view them as not really that criminal .

P.S What happened to that very attractive blonde girl called Michelle? - that was always with you ?

regards,

Nickolas.

[jimmy clitheroe]

yes indeed Panny,

but at that time they were cultural trends, but the funny thing is that many years later you view them as not really that criminal .

P.S What happened to that very attractive blonde girl called Michelle? - that was always with you ?

regards,

Nickolas.

Last time i bumped into michelle was kgh blackburn , she looked well, infact very well. Must have had an easy paper round regards panny

[Koolkat]

I have been called at lot worse.

Anyway found a few more, and I am not on any.

The lad in the red sweater is Duncan Gannon. An old mucker. He was gam for anything. It was he and Brian Waterhouse and myself who climbed up the back of the Casino and got in thru the top cloakrooms roof windows.

[Davetay]

The lad in the red sweater is Duncan Gannon. An old mucker. He was gam for anything. It was he and Brian Waterhouse and myself who climbed up the back of the Casino and got in thru the top cloakrooms roof windows.

Dun, is on the bottom photo as well 2nd from left.

I saw him and Brian about 3 months back in Clitheroe at The Grand.

I have also seen another of your old mates Gravsey (spelling?) a few times over the last couple years.

He has been with Garry Parker from Burnley everytime I've have seen him out.

Edited August 26, 2010 by davetay

[Guest]

Tony, I've only got a few from that era.

Here they are......

Dave, is that Alan Hughes(Fuse) in the middle right pic?

Ang

[Guest mickeyb]

I can remember going a few times in 79 I think. There was no gear to be had anywhere in the country. Just a few hundred in and most of those were asleep on their holdalls by three o'clock. It was'nt always packed dancefloor and thunderous clapping.

Why don't I believe you?

[Steve Thomas]

Grabbing a pint in Manchester then all running like scolded cats from Piccadilly to Victoria to catch the last train to Wigan followed by scuffles with the piss heads on the train & those on the way from the station to the Casino, till Gail's best mate Andrea got her Dad's farm van for us to use.

Trying to avoid the squad at Birch services.Once sat in mates car in the lower car park at Wigan when Taffy & Co pounced on the car & searched it & us, when asked where she came from Andrea replied innocently, "Swinefleet,where pigs are from".

The heat & noise that hit you like a tidal wave as you entered through the double doors, the hole in Mr M's dancefloor that you had to avoid, Wigan bath's in the morning with a bottle of ice cold milk from the milkman, many many more but finally for this, the bottle of liquid Ephedrine which sat against the wall on the pavement just by the main door in to the Casino from the early hours & was still there as we left with everyone trying to avoid eye contact with it in case it was a set up, don't know where it came from or where it went, Memories hey!!!!!!

Take care,be safe & remember," Sweet,sweet the memories you gave to me,You can't beat the memories you gave to me",

Spot.

Last year i was working in llangcefni only been there afew days , when in walks this chap with a broad Wigan accent, so i asked him what part of wigan he was from , he then asked me did i live inwigan , or had any family there i said no, but said to him i spent many weekends there

at the casino , he then told me the story , that he used to deliver milk there 6.30 or there abouts evey sat morning for the start of the casino till the end " SO DEREK EVANS WAS THE LEGAND THE WIGAN MILKMAN.. can remember getting milk off him many a times at the back of the balcony , he still lives in parbold ...but delivers pies now not milk .....

steve T

[Davetay]

Dave, is that Alan Hughes(Fuse) in the middle right pic?

Ang

No it's not Fuse, evertime a hear Saxie Russell it reminds me of Fuse.

I used to get bus with Fuse and Judy to Wigan when it 1st opened.

R.I.P. Alan (Fuse) Hughes.